Evening Star Newspaper, March 21, 1898, Page 2

WITHOUT DIVISION The House Passes the Maine Relief Bill. . BASED ON THE SAMOAN Scene Between Messrs. Boutelle and Cannon. on elections No. 3, presented the majority report in the contested election case of ‘V'ge egainst Young. The report is in fa- -ur_2* the contestant. Dy The minority was given ten days in which to file their report. ‘The House then went into committee of the whole and took up the private cajen- Gar. eS A Bitter Fight Begun. The Senate bill to satisfy the claim of the legal representatives of John Roach, | amounting to §331,151, for labor, material and dockage furnished by Roach, and the occupation of his yards" by the gunboats Chicago, Boston and Atlanta, was taken up out of its order and-a long and bitter fight followed. SENATE. N. THE SUPREME COURT : aise ; — 3 an Authority of a= Piimary Patent 4 In the United States Supreme Court to- day the case of J. W. Wilson agt. the state of North Carolina, in relation of L. C. Caldwell, was on the MUST WAFF-LONGER age, $40 per month. The requiraments provide’ BUT. ONE ELECTRIC PLANT Question of Possitle Consolidation of Inter- eats Being Considered. The Running of Electric Cars on Georgetown Line of Capital Traction Company. Cars sre running today by the under- Sround system on the Georgetown branch of the Capital Traction road from George- FINANCE AND TRADE New York Stock Market Was-Weak * and Narrow, ——.— ANTIETY OVER CUBAN OUTLOOK Both Accounts Shy of Market Under the Circumstances. After the transaction of some routine business in the Senate today Mr. Bacon (Ga.) introduced an amendment wich he town to the Peace monument. The opera- tion of this section of the mad by the new motive power was begun yesterday that the court was out juriediction. The case involves the right of the gov- ernor of North Carolina to remove mem- quired bei enlistment to pass an exem-| Arrangements have been already made ination showing that. they are machinists SENATE’S SHORT SESSION for the establishment of the naval station, ey The Maine relief bill was pessed without division by the House of Representatives today. The blind. chaplain of the House, in his invocation today, prayed that the members might meet with patience the problems of the week and dispore of them to the high- est and best interests of a‘l ccncerned. Immediately after the reading of the journal the Speaker recognized Mr. Bou- telle (Me.), chairman of the committee on naval affairs, who called up the bill for the relief of the survivors and victims of the Maine disaster. Mr. Beutelle said that the purpose and Provisions of the bill were well understood, and so far as he was concerned he. thought debate unnecessary. Still, he was ready to Yield to the desire of the House. Mr. Bailey said there was no disposition on his side of the House to debate the bill. Such matters as members on his side de- sired to speak about in connection with the disaster they would reserve for the naval appropriation bill. He gave notice of an amendment he would offer. Withcut debate. therefore, the bill was read by sections for amendment. Several minor committee amendments were agreed to. Mr. Cannon, cha‘rman of the committee on appropriations, offered an amendment to allow the surviving officers and men twelve months’ sea pay without rations in full compensation for Icszes sustained by them. This provision, he thought, prefer- able to one to idemnify them for the letses sustained, limited in amount to twelve months’ sea pay. He called atten- tion to the fact that in the case of the Samoan disaster the compensation ‘n each case was about the maximum. He tkought ® provision for compensation for actual losses might lead some of the survivors into the temptation of magnifying their claims. There would be also this advant- age in voting directly a year’s sea pay. It would obviate delay and the mediation of claims attorneys. While Congress was do- ing this act of justice, he said, it should fc the generous thing. Reimbursing the Survivors. Mr. Boutelle at this point concluded, as debate was to be indulged In, that it would be well for him to make a general state- ment. He then explained briefly that it was the idea of the committee that Con- gress should be as liberal toward the vic- tims of the Maine disaster as Tt had been toward those who suffered in the Samoan disaster, and the bill had been drawn along the lines of the bill pasted for the relief of the Samoan victims. The commit- tee did not believe the survivors should be reimbursed beyond the act@al losses in- curred. The provision relating to the fil- ing of the schedule of losses, made and sworn to, had been carefully hedged about and could not be criticised successfully. Mr. Bailey asked what the sea pay of the highest officer of the unfortunate ves- Bel was. “Captain Sigsbee’s pay is about $4,500," answered Mr. Boutelle. “Then under the proposed (#mendment he would receive that amount,’no matter What losses he had sustained.” “Exactly “What was the largest amount paid un- der the bill for the relief of the Samoan victims?” “About $2,000." Mr. Boutelle said h2 did not imagine that Capt. Sigsbee or any other of the gallant officers of the Maine would dream of being reimbursed beyond the actual amount of the losses they sustained. Exchange of Personalities. Mr. Boutelle and Mr. Cannon had a rather spirited exchange of personalities. The for- mer criticised the latter’s attitud2 toward the bill, and the latter said he was re- sponsible to his ccnstituents and the gen- eral public sentiment of the country, not the gentleman from Maine, for his positioa. “Tne gentleman does not live on God’s fcotstool,” said he, “who poss2sses the xbility to merit the approbation of the gentleman from Maine.” (Laughter.) Proceeding, Mr. Cannon again advoca‘ed his amendment, pointing out thst the aver- age value of the regular equipment of a ship's crew was $66, yet, in almost every irstance the members of the crews of the ships which went down at Samoa obtained Practically a year’s sea pay. Am:ricans, Chinamen and others on those ships sub- Mitted schedules detailing losses uggre- gating practically the maximum amount they could obtain under the Samoan act. As a practical legislator, he thought his amendment was wise and should b2 adopted. Mr. Bailey said at first he had been dis- pesed to favor the Cannon amendment. He had heard something of the scandal in con- nection with the Samoan act, and did not desire a r>petition of that disgraceful epi- sede. But upon closer examination, he thought the provision in the bill preferable. He had long been of the opiniosa that the best purt of the Lord’s prayer was con- tained in th> words: “Lead us not into temptation.” But this amendment would make it more profitable not to fall than to fall. It would give to the honest man more than the dishonest man would claim. Mr. Hilborn (Cal) dented emphatically that there had been any wholesale fraud in cchnection with the Samoan act. He read a list of the officers in the Samoaa wreck, together with their salaries and the amount ot their claims in proof of this. Several cf th: officers claimed nothing at all, and all of them claimed only a smal! fraction of their salaries. Mr. Cousine (lowa) changed the whole tenor of the Gebate at this juncture by the delivery of a brief but eloquent tribute to the American satlors who went down with the Maine. An Eloquent Tribute. Mr. Cousins said: “The measure now pro- Posed is most apprupriate and just, but hardly is it mentionable in contemplation of the great calamity to which it apper+ tains. It will be merely an incidental, leg- islative foot note to a page of history that will epen to the eyes of the republic and of the world for all time to come. No hu- man speech can add anything to the silent gratitude, the speechless reverence, al- ready given by a great and grateful nation to its dead defenders and to their living kin. No act of Congress providing for their reeds can make a restitution for their sac- rifce. Human nature does, in human Ways, its best and still feels deep in debt. Expressions of condolence have come from every country and from every clime, and every nerve of steel and ocean cable has carried on clectric breath the sweetest, tenderest words of sympathy for that gal- lant crew who manned the Maine.” After paying a high tribute to the men of the Maine, Mr. Cousins closed with these words: “Hovering above the dark waters of that mysterious harbor of Havana, the black-winged vulture watches for the be- lated dead, while over it and over all there is the eagle's piercing eye, sternly watch- ing for the truth. Whether the a) ja- tion earried by this resolution shall be ul- timately charged to fate or to some foe shall soon appear. Meanwhile a patient and a patriotic people, enlightened by the lessons of our history, remembering the woes of war, both to the vanquished and Victorious, are ready for the truth and for their duty There was a tremerdous round of ap- Plause when Mr. Cousins concluded. Mr. Wheeler (Ala.) followed in a similar strain, concluding with the declararion that it was God's will that Cuba should be free. ‘The Cannon amendment.was lost with- cut division. Mr. Bailey offered an amendment to in- sert the word “dependent” before paren: or parents in the section making them the beneficiaries und-r the bill in certain con- Fejected (67-116), as out the words “and the brothers and sis- announced he would offer to the resolution providing for the annexation of the Ha- waliian Islands to the United States. The amendment provides that the resolution shall not be effective until the question of annexation shall have been submitted to the qualified electors of Hawaii and parsed upon affirmatively by them. The amend- ment is the same which Mr. Bacon offered to the Hawaiian treaty and which is still ding. ootr. Allen (Neb.) secured the passage.of a resolution calling upon the Secretary of the Interior for information as to the number of all classes of pensioners, including the percentage of men and women and chil- dren, carried on the pension rolls. In behalf of his colleague, Mr. Thurston (QNeb.), Mr. Allen announced that next at the conclusion of the morning bus- iness Mr. Thurston would address the Sen- ate upon the condition of affairs on the Island of Cuba. Among the bills passed were the follow- ing: To authorize the construction of a bridge across St. Francis river, in Arkan: sas; to confer jurisdiction upon the United States circuit courts in certain cases; granting to the Washington Improvement and Development Company a right of way through the Colville Indian reservation, in ‘Washington; to remit the penalty of $32,823 imposed upon the Union Iron Works of San Francisco because on the official trial of the Monterey the required horse power was not maintained; to pay the Union Iron Works of San Francisco for extra work on the Monterey, $14,742; to provide for pro- moting Capt. Wm.'N. Tisdall, U. 8. A., now on the retired list, to the rank of major; to amend section 1370 of the Revised Statutes of the United States relating to the medical corps. of the navy and providing that per- sons appointed to the naval medical corps shall be between twenty-one and thirty years old; to authorize ine use of deposi- tions before naval courts in certain cases and to amend an act giying the consent of the United States to the erection of a bridge across Portage Houghton county, Mich., providing that, under cer- tain restrictions, all railroads shall have the right to use the bridge. On motion of Mr. Hoar (Mass.) the Sen- ate, at 1:45 p.m., went into executive ses- sion, and at 1:55 p.m. adjourned. ———$—<——_<. FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. Plea Presented Today by Methodist Ministerial Assoication. CHICAGO, IIL, March 21.—At the meet- ing of the Methodist Ministerial Association teday the Rev. John Lee, chairman, read &@ report of the “committee on religious liberty for Protestants in South America.” The report stated that the committee was greatly encouraged. It aims: to accomplish three things: “1. To secure religious Hberty for mis- sionaries working in the republics of Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia. “2. To secure religious liberty for, native Christians who dissent from the Roman Catholic faith. “3. To secure in these South American republics the fullest civil liberty for for- e‘gners and native born Protestants, es- pecially by the legalization of marriages performed by others than the clergy of the Romar Catholic Church.” The committee, it was stated, asks ‘‘noth- ing more for the Protestants in the. Soutn American republics than is cheerfully ac- corded te Roman Catholics in this repub- lic” Letters had been addressed to prominent men in various parts of Christendom, stat- ing the aims of the committee, and a large number of replies had been received. Among them was one from ex-President Cleveland, who wrote: “I am an advocate of the largest liberty to all people in our own land, and am strongly in favor of any movement having for its object the perfect security and absolute freedom in the South American states of our citizens sojourning or resid:ng there. The “demand for such freedom, it seems to me, is only reasonable and just.” Ex-President Harrison replied: ‘“Certain- ly the religious liberty which is now uni- versally given by Protestent countries to citizens and residents of the Roman Cath- otic faith calls for reciprocal treatment in Roman Catholic countries.” The Rev. John W. Butler of Mexico, in bis reply, referred to a conversation he had had with President Diaz, who said: “The clergy in my country are not ail tolerant, but we intend to be and to main- tain religious and civil liberty at all costs.” pee eg s BROWNSON OFF TO PARIS. Naval Officer Goes to Inspect War- ships for Sale. LONDON, March 21.—Commander Wil- lard H. Brownson, United States navy, who is visiting Europe in the interest of the United States Navy Department, has start- ed for France to inspect the ships which are being built at the La Seyne (opposite Toulon on the Mediterranean) for Brazil, ecncerning which vessels negotiations have been proceeding. Commander Brownson, previous to leav- ing for Frarce, spent two days inspecting the Admiral Abrouall, purchased by the jnited States government from Brazil at the same time as the Amazonas, and some torpedo craft at Ellswick and elsewhere. Commander Brownson is understood to have been highly pleased with the Abrouall, though the United States authorities may decide to charge some details of her plans befere she is completed. It wilt be impos- sible, however, to complete her for some time to come. =. MR. ENDICOTT SELECTED. Appointed Chief of the Burenn of Yards and Docks. The vacancy which has existed in the office of the chief of the bureau of yards and docks, Navy Department, since last Tuesday, when the term of Rear Admiral E. O. Matthews expired, was filled by the President today by the appointment of Civil Engineer Mordecai T. Endicott for a term of four years. In view of the prob- ability of the construction of four or five new dry docks shortly this bureau becomes one of the most important in the Nevy De- partment. Mr. Endicott is an r officer of high repute, and is tho ly informed in re- gard to all matters which come- directly under the bureau of which he will be the head. Aside from this, his position es bu- reau chief will make him a member of the general board made up of bureau chiefs which determines questions of generat pol- icy relating to the navy. The appointment .of a civil engineer to this position Is a distinct innovation in the’ Thursday Great Britain is not bers of the railroad commissidn from office under the state law of 1891, and this right ‘waa sustained by today’s decision, Mr. Wilson was formerly chairman of the rall- | road commission and was summerily re- moved on the grovhd that waq a railroad stockholder, contrary to law, and L. C. Caldwell appointed in his stead. =: rranto against him to test the title to the office. The state courts decided against Wilson’s contentions, and this view was rractically sustained by the decision rendered today holding the United States court zo be with- out jurisdiction. Justice Peckham in decid- ing the case sald that as the office was exclusively a state office the United States court had to deal only with the question whether Mr. Wilson was deprived of any right guaranteed him by the federal Con- stitution. He had not been so deprived, and accordingly the court was without jur- isdiction, The case also involved a proceeding, on motion of Mr. Wilson, to punish Mr. Cald- well for contempt in procs upon the judgment of the state court while the case was pending in the United States court. This case "was also dismissed because it @ppeared that Caldwell was ignorant of the fact that the court had taken cogniz- ance of the contempt proceeding. Keck’s Cuse Restored. The Supreme Court today restored to the docket the case of Herman Keck, the Cin- cinnati merchant who is under sentence of imprisonment for attempting to smug- gle diamonds into the United States through the Philadelphia port. The court recently affirmed the decision of the court below by a divided court before Justice McKenna went on the bench. The case will now be considered by the full bench on printed briefs. 3 Authority of an Examiner. Justice Brown handed down the optnion of the court in the case of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company versus Ault- man and otters. The case involved the authority of a primary examiner in the patent office to reject as invalid claims of an original patent which were incorporated in an application for a reissue, the patents at issue being two covering automatic twine binders fog harvesting machines. The case came-to the Supreme Court on ® certificate from the United States cir- cuit court of appeals for the sixth circuit. In replying to the question, the court held that upon the issue of the original patent, the patent office-had no power to revoke, cancel or annul it. The office had, he said, lost jurisdiction over the patent when ‘was once signed and did not regain juris- iction by an application for a reissue. ‘pon application being made for reissue,” he continued, “the patent office was au- thorized to deal with all its claims, the original as well as those inserted first in the application, and-might declare them to be invalid, but such action would not affect the claims of the original patent, which re- mained in full force if the application for a reissue were rejected or abandoned.” —__-e-_____ ENGLAND PROTESTS. Denies That She is Waiting a Chance te Seize Hawali. Much surprise-has been created in Eng- land by the-passage in the recent report of the Senate committee on foreign relations respecting the attitude of Great Britain toward Hawaii, and Str Julian Pauncefate, under instructions from his government, ye informed the Department of State that the committee of the Senate are under an entire misapprehension, and that there is no ground whatever for the allegations con- tained in the statement. Zi The passage referred to states that “if industriously and epenly engaged ‘in fomenting this concerted movement for the destruction of the re- public and the restoration of the monarchy on its ruins her agents and the princess, her protege, are kept conveniently near at hand to fasten her power upon the islands on the happening of any pretext for the Protection of the lives and property British subjects in Hawait.” —_——-o+____ THE OVERSTREET BILL. Favorable Action by the House In- valid Pensions Committee. The House committee on nivalid pensions has favorably reported the Overstreet bill prohibiting the withholding, suspension, modification or cancellation of any pension except for fraud, clerical error, mistake of fact or recovery from disability. The bill requires sworn charges in each case, the reduction of all 2vidence to writ- ten questions and answers, and prevents adverse action until the determination of such an investigation to be held near the claimant's home, at which the claimant and attorn2y are to appear. The committee has recommended to the House the allowance of a pension of $100 per month to Katharine L. Cushing, widow of the late Commander Cushing, U. 8. N., who gained distinction by destroying the confed2rate ram Albemarle. —_—_—__- + -_____ Jastice Street Confirmed. The nomination of Webster Street to be chief justice of Arizona, was confirmed by the Senate today. The nomination has been held up in the committee on judiciary for several months on charges affecting his standing as an attorney, but investiga- tion satisfied the committee that the charges were without foundation. The committee decided to repcrt the case favor- ably at its meeting today, and to ask im- mediate action on the part of the Senate. course was pursued with, the result tbat the nomination went through_without either delay or opposition in the Senate. ————-—______ Presented at the State Department. The Spanish minister called at the State Department today and presented Messrs. Angulo, Valera and Cadenas, who are the Maj. E. G, Fechet, 6th Cavalry, has been relieved from duty with the National Guard of Nebraska, April 1, Capt. J. D. Poindexter, assistant sur- geon, is relieved from duty at Willet’s les Troop E Capt. Charles G. Ayres of Troop G, ob Soeet ee exchanged places. “by trade. Department-of-the Gulf. ite Pon aemha, oe suming command o! ) new military de> at qu: frere. Although no has yet been partment: It is sefif-heré that no {mineal- ate movement of troops"ds’a result of the change of the lines of the military divis- fons recently put~into éffect ts contem- plated, but that ‘thé movements for the present will be confined to the transfer of artillery troops to man the fortifications récently completed. ~~“ Connecting New York Forts, General A. W. Greely, the chief signal officer of the army, has.returned from a visit to New York, where-he went to make } arrangements for installing electric com- munication between the various posts comprising the fortifications of that- city. The general reports that the work will begin during the present week and will be pushed as rapidly as possible to comple- tion. Without this means of electric com- munication between ‘the forts the govern- ment, in the event of war, would be at a sad disadvantage, as the only resort then would be to carry-messages by the ordi- nary commercial means, an exceedingly slow method when every “moment is of the greatest value, Werk of Arming the Coast. Col. Williston, who was recently placed in command of the 6th Artillery, one of the new regiments authorized by Congress, called at army headquarters today to con- f2r with Gen. Miles in regard to the situa- tion in general and the defenses of Balt!- mere in particular.“ Col. Williston is sta- tioned at Fort McHenry, Md., just outside of the monumental ‘city, which post ts the headquarters of the regiment. Capt. Wm. P. Duvall of the 5th Artillery has reported at the War Department under o:ders for temporary duty in the offices of the Secretary of War and the major gen- eral commanding the army. Capt. Duvall is instructor in practical military exercises at the Artillery School, Fort- Monroe, and is regarded as an exp2rt'in all matters per- taining to the artiléfy- branch of the ser- vice. He has just been promoted to his present grade asia result of the recent in- crease of artilleryltegiments. Although not officially admitte(Pat the department, it is generally unders{pcd, that he was sum- moned to Washington to confer with the military authorities on questions involving the employment Gr thé artillery in active work along tn3”Atlatitic and gulf coasts. This is simply a-frécdéutfonary measure in view'of the possibiifties ‘of trouble with Spain, and is in no sere an indication that ‘this government ls ‘diiposed ‘to take any actién that can pHopery bé regarded “as ‘a sufficient provocdfion “tbr, hostilities, During the day,}iewt, Duvall had an.in- terview: with ‘Secitetarsn Alger, and was;in- formed that he-hea-bésh ‘appointed milftaty ‘aid’ to" thie’ Secretifry, “aiid consequently ‘will ‘have to relingji#h his pgesent connection with the artillery. school-at: Fort: Monroe and take up his residenee irfthis eity, ‘Tis supposed that Lieut. Devore, who has been acting “as the Secretary's military aid since the beginning of this administration, - will continue to act in,that capacity in conjunc- tion with Duvall. Capt. Frank Hobbs, one of the ordnance experts of the army, reported at the War Department today, upder orders, for special duty in connection with the emergency preparations fer the protection of tha coast and the arming and equipment of the troo) ulars and National Guardsmen. Little Hope of Raising the Maine. According to the-orders to naval officers issued by the Navy Department today, the battle ship Maine 1s still in official exist- ence. Two of-the orders at least would seem to give that impression. They read as follows: “Lieut. A. W. Catlin, U. 8. M. C., detached Maine, dnd home; Lieut. G. F. W. Holman, detached Maine, home and wait orders.” It is presumed that the ill-fated battle ship will not be stricken from the Naval Register until after it has been finally es- tablished beyond the possibility of doubt that the shattered hull cannot be raised from its present bed of/mud in the harbor of Havana and reconstructed into at least a semblance of her former self. Although there is scarcely ground for the hope that the vessel can be raised and restored to the navy, the department will not abandon its efforts in that direction until the wreckers now at work upon it report that it is im- possible, That they already take that view of the subject, howeVer, is evident from the fact that the-mammoth floating derrick Monarch, which was. chartered condition- ally for*raising the Maine, if such a. thing were found tq be practical, has not even started on her proposed trip to Havana, and the officials of the: department have practically concluded,to ebandon the under- taking. Under the terms of the contract the sum of $500 a day was to he paid for the Monarch for eyery day she was in actual service on the wreck of the battle ship. Her specialty is heavy lifting, and she was to be utilized for the recovery of Such parts of the ship and its equipment as could not be lifted by the wrecking vessels now at work.on the wreck. The owners of the Monarch were to bespaid a lump sum aggregating many tWousand dollars in case they were able wee the warship and take her to the I “3 ment is at this time withpstaspecial. consideration for their great yetwe'se dollars The navy has: first-class guns $7fd. including the dredging of the harbor chan- nel, but a troublesome question has arisen in_connection with the proposed system of fortifications. ‘The engineer officers who have been investigating the ‘matter esti- mate that it will cost about $1,000,000 and tate to embark on-an undertaking of that extent unless the Navy Department con- siders the work absolutely necessary for the protection of their interests there. Assistant Secretary Roosevelt, represent- ing Secretary Long, was not prepared to assume the responsibility of ar undertak- ing of this’ magnitude without further con- sultation with the naval officers specially intereéted in the establishment of the coal- ing station. Definite action was postponed in order to give him an opportunity to further investigate the matter and report as to the advisability of the -proposed en- gineering works at this outpost of the United States, which would undoubtedly become the most important center of naval operations in the event of an outbreak of hostilities between the United States and Spain. 2 Movements of Warships. The sailing of the coast defense vessels Mcnadnock and Monterey today for San Francisco has been reported to the Navy Department. The two shipe have been in lower California waters during the past winter engaged in target and other prac- tice, and their departure for the Golden Gate is said to be in accordance with the usual custom each spring of sending them there for any repairs which may be found necessary. The vessels are of the monitor class, and their presence at San Francisco will add much to the naval defense of that city should hostilities occur. They will take, in part at least, the place left vacant by the departure of the battle ship Oregon, which has just left San Francisco for Callao, Peru. The departure of the battle ship Texas for Hampton Roads was also reported to the Navy Department today. The Texas hhas been one of the formidable vessels forming part of Admiral Sicard’s North Atlantic ‘squadron, now rendezvoused at Key West and Tortugas. The Massachu- setts is also to be sent to Hampton Roads as part of the fleet which it is intended shall be located on the middle Atlantic seaboard, and her departure from the gulf is ex- pected soon. : RECEIVED BY THE PRESIDENT. Willard Hotel Boys Who Raised Money for the Maine Sufferers. President McKinley today personally re- ceived $47.80 for the benefit of the Maine sufferers. It was presented by eight little boys whdse homies are at Willard’s Hotel. ‘They are Charlie Cotlin, Tommy Mudd, Arthur €offin, Orren 8. De Witt, Sydney Mudd, jr., Griffen Mudd, Morris Crum- packer and Harold De Witt. hese -boys, recently, gave an entertain- ment at the hotel, selling tickets at 5 cents each, and netting the sum mentioned. Orren De Witt made the presentation, and the President responded in a short speesh. He said he would turn the money over to the Navy Department. The boys marched to the White House in & body, accompanied by Messrs. G. De Witt and Eugene Coffin. — Oo TO RESTORE ORDER. ‘Teoops at Skaguay Ordered to Take Proper Steps. Information has reached the War De- partment that the rowdy element of Alaska have seized Bennett’s road, leading to and over White Pass, and have placed the country, in a state of terror. Instructions were today telegraphed to Gen. Merriam, commanding the Department of the Co- lumbia at Vancouver, Wash., to order the infantry garrison at Skaguay to take Proper steps for the protection of persons and property in the disturbed region, re- gardless of the expense attending such 4 movement of troops. : ———_+o+_____ “PACIFIC RAILWAY DEBTs. Bills to Be Reported Providing for a Federal Commission. ‘The Senate committee on Pacific railroads tocay decided to report the bills for settle- ment of the Central Pacific and the Sioux City and Pacific debts. The Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of the Interior and the Attorney General are created a commission to settle the debts and to: make such extensions as may be necessary to se- cure the government's interest. In the case of the Central Pacific an amendment was adopted, providing that the full amount of the government's princi- pal and interest must be paid. No limita- ticn was placed on the Stoux City and Pacific, and it is probable that Senators Morgan and Harris will make a minority report in favor of a similar restriction to that placed on the Central Pacific settle- ment. —-—_—___-e+__—____ REQUIRED TO GIVE BOND. Well-Known Attorney Charged With Violation of Statute. After a hearing of some length, United States Commissioner Mills, iate this after- noon, held Mr. Robert L. White, 2 weil- known local attcrney, in $1,000 bonds to await action of the grand jury on a charge of violating one of the Revised Statutes of the United States relating to the use of the United States mails. : It was charged that Mr. White sent cer- tain postal cards through the mail to par- ties in different sections of the United States on which were printed statements that, it was claimed, tended to point out apparent delinquency on the part of Mr. Philip W: Avirett and to affect the credit and standing of the latter. Mr. Avirett is ne of Pennsy! morning, as stated in Saturday’s Star would be the case, and no mechanical difficulties occurred to interfere with the successful inauguration of the new system. The cur- rent for this part of the road, as well as that which is used in operating the litu Street line, is obtained from the Potomac Electric Power Company, and, as the pewer for operating éeveral of the other electric roads is obtained from the same ccmpany, the situation is attracting con- siderable attention in business circl station, not only for corporations, but for private individuals, who have use for an @ectric current. One of the factors in the Proposed. scheme which is now under con- sideration, as stated in The Star, for the consolidation of the two electric light com- paniea, ic the estimated reduction in the ccst of administrative expenses, as well as in the production of power by having one set of officers and practically one plant to do. the work which is now done by two sets of officers and two electric plants. It is claimed there would be a great sav- ing in the cost of running street railroads if the companies could buy power instead of producing it from their own plants. All the suburban raliroads about this city now operated by electricity, with one ex- ception, have adopted the policy of buying power instead of maintaining separate power houses. It is understood that those who are interested in the rcorganization of the Eckington road do not propese to erect a power house, but will hire the current which will be used in the operation of that road. It is believed that a decided tendency has been manifested in this city toward consolidation in the line of the production of electrical power, but whether it will ex- tend to the two large street railroads which now have independent plants ‘s a question for the future. ‘When the work of equipping the Capital Traction railroad with the new under- ground electric system was in progress, and especially when the conduits which are used for carrying the feed wires were being put in place, rumors were common that @ portion of the conduits for the use of one, of the electric lighting companies. Those, however, who were in a position to know the plans of the Traction company gave no credit to these rumors, and elec- trical experts say that the capacity of the conduits is required by the needs of the company in operating the road. In the Dis- trict appropriation bill, however, a clause is inserted which prohibits electric lighting companies from using rallroad electrical conduits. —>—_—_ TRIAL OF DR. CARR. Resumption of the Proceedings in the Police Court. The trial of Cassius M. Carr, charged with practicing dentistry in violation of law, which was begun Friday last before Judge Scott and a jury, was resumed this afternoon. Dr. Appler, secretary of the dental board, was recalled and identified the list of names of those persons to whom license to practice dentistry in the District has been issued. He stated that Mr. Carr's mame was not on the lst. Mr. Baker here announced that the case for the ‘government was closed, and Mr. Jefforis asked Judge Scott to instruct the jury to acquit the defendant on the ground that the government had not proved an offense. Judge Scott asked Mr. Jeffords for fur- ther reasons why the court should adopt the co.rse asked for by the defense, and Mr. Jeffords maie some extended remarks on the subject. Mr. Baker replied to Mr. Jeffords, and Judge Scott declined to accede to the re- quest. Mr. Jeffords reserved an exception and ‘addressed the jury, in which he claim- e¢ that Carr had not violated the law in questicn. a Investigating Local Systems. Commissioner Wight, who has immediate charge of the police and fire departments, is making an investigation of the District fire alarm and telegraphic and telephone systems, and today, accompanied by a rep- reeentative of the Gamewell Fire Alarm Company of New York, visited several of the companies of the fire department and police stations. Mr. Wight is desirous of familiarizing himself with the possible de- fects of the systems and their shortcom- irgs. “a ‘Witnesres in Canty Case. The grand jury this afternoon was en- geged in examining witnesses in connec- tion with the case of Dennis J. Canty, who is beld for the murder of George M. Rye. A large number of witnesses, probably thirty-five or more, it is understood, are to be examined. These proceedings will probably occupy a day or two. The expec- tation is at the city hall that an indictment, if such should be warranted by the facts, ‘will be reported against Canty before the close of the week. ip ie Grain, Provisi and Cotton Markets. Furnished by W. Hibbs & Co., bankers and brokers, 1427 F st., members New York stock exchange, correspondents Messrs. Ladenburg, Thalmann & Co., New York. ‘Siver. - Brooklyn K. Transit. GENEBAL MARKET REPORTS Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. NEW YORK, March 21.—Speculation was held in abeyaace today by a spirit of ex- pectancy, accompanied by evidences of suppressed tension resulting from the prob- able develpoments of the present week. Little stock sought a market, and the little in sight was more than equal to the de mand. The findings of the court of inquiry are believed to be still such a matter of speculation that positive arguments for the abandoning of either account were lacking. The result of this condition was to es tablish a narrow market with both aoe counts undisturbed. Opening prices were generally lower, the concessions varying from % to 1 per cent. The London market reflected extreme sensitiveness to the prob- able outcome of the Maine report, and sub- stantial fractions were subtracted from Saturday's closing parity. Local prices were influenced to some ex: tent by this fact and sold off from the weak opening level. Later in the day, however, the market relapsed into dull- ness. ‘Total inactivity was often apparent, the absence of news from Washington leaving ‘he situation bare ef material fa- vorable to extensive trading. All factors are overshadowed by politic cal considerations, and routine reports are set down for future use only. ings throughout the day were of the and idenv r ‘pired by the amb'uon of a few roads t» coniiol the Klondike traffic is scarcely a factor. Speaking generally, the financial situation is marred only by the Spanish crisis. This crisis involves the fate of Cuba as well as redress for the loss of a battle ship, and = oe World has come to consider former question as the only one worthy of consideration. The decline of 5 to 10 per cent in the stock market has already discounted the latter event. The reduction in loans is of itself evidence cf a general reduction of stcck market risks, as well as of commer- cial obligations. Financiers have not been behind the roqyenaong . Washington in preparing for ‘¢ worst that may come. The prospects for a shock have been considerably re- duced, and a rational handling of the com- piex situation is to be exp2cted. This con- Gition does not preclude a further decline, natty should, and probably will, avert a pan! The dullness at today’s low level must be interpreted as indicating a lack of courage to extend the short account. There was no liquidation, and the Pronounced than ever. Duliness under ti circumstances is both logicai and desirable, and argues well for the stability of the general market. The final trading was de- voted to a professional interchange of small lots, but the prices compared favorably with those of early morning. In some instances they were even better. Today’s market will probably be repeated during the balance of the week or during so much of it as precedes the information 80 universally desired. a ae FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL. The following are the opening, the high- est and the lowest and the ck.eing prices of the New York stock market lay, as re- ported by Corson & Macartney, members New York stock ex: Correspondents, Messrs. Van Emburgh & Atterbury, No. 2 Wall st° ths i iba Chig. & G Western. .. tos Washington Steck Exchange. Sales—regular call—12 o'clock m.—U. 1 Hes 141) a rict of cee I :